Background: The present study investigates the impact of the Coronavirus diseases 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic on the subjective
experience of pregnant women, as well as the impact of the pandemic on this population in terms of psychopathological correlates.
Subjects and methods: Pregnant women referring to the Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the General Hospital of
Perugia, Italy, were recruited from 1st May, 2021 to 15th June, 2021. Socio-demographic and clinical data was collected, as well as
information regarding the Covid-19 pandemic impact on the subjective experience of pregnancy. Psychopathology was evaluated by
means of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y), the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and the Prenatal Distress Measure
(Pre-DM). Descriptive analyses were performed. Significant associations between distress symptoms and the collected
sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed by using the Pearson correlation (p<0.05).
Results: 25 women were included in the study. Among these, 18 (72%) reported that the Covid-19 pandemic negatively impacted
their experience of pregnancy. Were detected an average Pre-DM total score of 7.28±4.33 and an average state anxiety scale value
of 35.56+-9.21 and an average trait anxiety scale value of 34.04+-7.44 at the STAI-Y. A global severity index > 1 at SCL-90 was
detected in 8.3% of the sample.
Conclusions: The identification of antepartum distress and the early treatment of perinatal psychopathology represent a priority
during the Covid-19 pandemic era
